“I’m always nervous when the homeowners walk up to the front door before the big reveal,” admits Izzy Battres, owner of Battres Construction and host of Izzy Does It — which premieres on HGTV Wednesday, February 5 at 9|8c. “I start asking myself if I did a good enough job because I don’t want them to like their new home, I want them to love it! When they do, it’s like Christmas and the Super Bowl all in one. I’m always so grateful they’ve put their trust in me and given me the opportunity to remake their homes. It’s just a really good feeling when we put it all out there workwise and we’re rewarded by their happiness.”

Ahead, learn everything about Izzy and his family business, and what it was like getting the greenlight for his own HGTV show.

Izzy Has Lots of Siblings

Izzy grew up with three siblings — his older brother Rudy (the company’s project manager), a younger brother Sam (with whom Izzy started the business) and a younger sister Yvette, who once worked for the company in HR. “My goal is to get Yvette’s kids to one day work for the company!” says Izzy.

Izzy Is Super Close With His Brother Rudy

Izzy has said, “I would trust Rudy until the hubcaps came off”. When asked about the best part of having Rudy as his project manager and big brother, Izzy jokes, “I can text him at all hours of the day and night and I don’t have to pay him overtime!”

Izzy Wasn’t Always So Outgoing

When asked how he would describe himself in high school, Izzy responds, “I love learning but I was a bit withdrawn, not who I am today. I didn’t have a ton of friends, but the ones I had were loyal. Unlike Rudy, who was voted most popular, I was an introvert. In a way, I couldn’t be in the spotlight because Rudy’s star was so bright — I couldn’t live up to that!”

Izzy Always Dreamed of Being a Film Director

“Growing up, I found comfort going to the movies,” shares Izzy. “Filmmaking is an art and acting and script writing are so powerful — they can inspire you and rock you to your core.” His three favorite movies? Platoon, Pulp Fiction and No Country for Old Men.

Izzy Overcame Some Early Difficulties

Izzy experienced some tough times as a kid and ended up in a recovery home. “After a year there, I realized I could be a productive member of society and make a living in construction,” shares Izzy. “I’ve learned that second, third, fourth and fifth chances are a gift from God and that failure is not final — you can learn and grow from your mistakes and that when you’re down, you really find out who your family and friends are.”

Izzy Met His Wife in Church

Liliana is Izzy’s wife of 14 years, mother to his two stepchildren, and his business partner. “She’s the most incredible person I know,” he says. “We met in church when I was playing Jesus in an Easter play. I was up on the cross and Lily was in the audience. I leveraged my role playing Jesus, making my move in a loincloth after the performance by asking her if she wanted to go out for food!”

Izzy Loves His Stepchildren

Brianna (age 22) and Joseph (age 24) are a huge part of Izzy’s life, with Izzy joking, “I became an instant dad. I jumped out of a plane without a parachute, the turbulence, the pigeons hitting my face on the way down!”

Izzy Had to Unlearn Some Parenting Skills

“My parents immigrated from Mexico and I grew up in a household with a very strict dad and my mom worked while raising four kids. We didn’t take a lot of vacations — we had to tough things out. Once I became dad to Bri and Joe, I had to unlearn some of the parenting tools I learned growing up. I was taught hard work will get you everywhere, that discipline was a good teacher. But now I realize love, compassion and communication are just as important,” says Izzy.

Izzy’s Discovered Two Hobbies

“When you’re raising kids, you don’t have time for hobbies. I was at every one of their games, we had dinner together every night,” says Izzy. “But when Bri and Joe got to the age where they didn’t want to hang out with their dad anymore, I started getting into sports, particularly football. I now have season tickets to the L.A. Rams games and my son and I just started to play golf together. I’m finding fun things outside of work to do for myself!”

Izzy’s a Dog Dad

“Lily grew up with dogs and since marriage is all about compromise, we got a dog. Our first, Shera, passed away and now we have Buckley, a 3-year-old basset hound. We inherited him from Bri after she got married because her husband Ben is allergic to dogs. Izzy says when his dad Rodolfo, who passed away in December 2024, was sick, that "Buckley could feel my sadness and would lay his head on my feet when I was up worrying in the middle of the night.”

Izzy’s Best Advice Came from His Dad

Izzy’s dad had a big influence on Izzy’s life. “I learned the trades from him and he believed in me before I even believed in myself. The one piece of advice he always stressed was, ‘Keep your name clean — your name and your word are the two things you have in this life.’ It’s why our company’s tag line is, ‘Committed to Leaving a Good Name.’ I also live by the Proverbs 22:1 which says, ‘A good name is more desirable than great riches.’ I will be taking that to my grave.”

Izzy Is Grateful for Every Day

“I wake up in the morning feeling appreciative for another day above ground!” says Izzy. “I’m turning 53 this year. Many of my home boys are in prison or no longer alive — they never made it out of the neighborhood. I’m grateful for my life and I live it to the fullest. I’m the one singing in the morning.”

Izzy Was Once a Missionary

“I did missionary work for five years in areas like South America. I think in our latter years, Lily and I will end up building communities in poor countries and possibly even starting a church,” shares Izzy.

Izzy Has Three Things He Can’t Live Without

My Bible. My family. My wife’s cooking.

Izzy Has a Guilty Pleasure

“I love the crunchiness of a good quesadilla shell — one that’s crispy with the cheese melting all over it. I’ll take a crispy quesadilla anytime!” laughs Izzy.

Izzy Can Define Himself in Three Words

Generous. Servant. Visionary.

Izzy Has a Favorite Vacation Spot

Florence, Italy. “I love the greenery, the culture, the food!” shares Izzy.

Izzy Has a Hidden Talent

“I play the accordion!” he says. “I took lessons at the Milton Mann Studio in Santa Ana and when I was in 6th grade, I entered my school’s talent show and played my accordion. My dad dressed me up in a checkered suit with ruffles. I had to follow a group of cool kids who were break dancing — that was rough!”

Izzy Was Proud to Give His Daughter Away

Izzy notes that while giving away daughter was hard, doing so fulfilled a life goal of walking her down the aisle. “The first day I met Ben, I could see he had a good heart. He was so nervous — his hands were shaking and he couldn’t find the right words. His body language told me, ‘I need to make him feel more comfortable!’”

Izzy Is Happiest When He’s Mentoring

“I love seeing people grow, especially when they don’t realize they have potential,” says Izzy. “Extracting talent is a gift. Seeing people prosper — I love that!”

Izzy Wants to Build a Family Legacy

Despite many family members working for the company, Izzy worries his business is going to end with him. “Sometimes it keeps me up at night,” Izzy admits. “I don’t want it to end with me, I want my dad’s legacy to continue.”

Izzy Loves His Mornings

To relax, Izzy goes to the gym and does hot yoga (“It’s like taking a sedative — nothing can bother you!” he jokes). But mostly, he loves his mornings. “When it’s dark out and there’s nobody awake and I smell that coffee,” he shares. “I put my worship music on and meditate. I love that time of the day when it’s just the Lord and me.”

Izzy’s Turning into an Old Softie

Izzy notes men do not talk about their feelings in his culture. “I refer to it as 'Mexican Machismo,'” he says. “You’re taught to put your head down and keep working. But as I get older, I’m softening up. I saw it happen with my dad as he aged, he became more gentle and patient. Those characteristics go a long way. Seeing that firsthand has given me foresight into my own future.”

Izzy Appreciates Social Media

In the past, Izzy would go door to door with flyers to find new business. Today, his daughter Bri, head of social media and marketing for Izzy’s firm, helps find new clients. “I used to say, not every moment should be on video,” says Izzy. “But now I recognize and value all she does. Customers can see how I interact with my family and employees and realize, ‘I want that guy to work in my house.’ Her videos capture our real family.”

Izzy Got Emotional Finding Out His Show Was a Go

Online commenters have been begging HGTV to give Izzy his own show for a long time and having one greenlighted was an emotional moment. “The things people say about you stay with you — teachers, people of authority. I once had a judge tell me I was the ‘blankety-blank’ of society. Getting my own show affirmed all the naysayers. Hearing that news was like the Lord saying to me, ‘I got you.’ It proved all my hard work had paid off.”

Izzy Came Up with the Name of His Show

“I grew up in the '80s and '90s listening to rap music,” says Izzy. “There was an artist called Eazy-E who co-wrote a song with Ice Cube and Dr. Dre called 'Eazy-Duz-It'. While filming the sizzle reel, that song came into my head and I started rapping it and the showrunner was like, ‘That’s really good!’ The rest is history.”

Izzy Appreciates Having His Own Show

Having worked on Flip or Flop and Christina on the Coast, Izzy is somewhat of a pro when it comes to working on a television show. “But it’s representing people who are out there doing exactly what I’m doing that makes having my own show special. There are many small Latino businesses that just want a shot at success. My goal is to show the rawness and reality of what it takes to grow a business and serve a community. My hope is that I represent them accurately.”

Where to Watch Izzy Does It

Izzy Does It premieres on HGTV Wednesday, February 5 at 9|8c and will be available to stream on Max and discovery+ starting the next day. Keep up with Izzy and family on Instagram at @izzybattres, @battresconstruction and @battreshome.